DATE: October 31, 2008

CONTACT: Brett Wright, 864-656-3036
wright@clemson.edu

WRITER: Ross Norton, 864-656-4810
rnorton@clemson.edu

Wright installed in the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration

CLEMSON — The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration recently installed Brett Wright, professor and chairman of the Clemson University parks, recreation and tourism management department (PRTM).

The academy limits its membership to 125 practicing professionals and no more than 25 percent of them may be educators. Wright was installed along with David Scott and Gary Ellis of Texas A&M University; they were the first educators to join the academy in three years.

Before coming to Clemson in 2002, Wright spent 16 years at George Mason University. He and PRTM professor emeritus Bill Hammitt are co-editors of the academy’s Park Practices Journal, now published out of Clemson University.

Wright’s scholarly work and research has been in rural recreation, private landowner research, recreational liability, municipal recreation planning, national parks and open space and park management.

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration was formed in 1980 to advance knowledge of parks and recreation administration, to encourage scholarly efforts in the field and to promote public understanding of the profession. Membership qualifications include serving at least 15 years in a high level of administration in a park and recreation agency or at an institution of higher education.

END